Bakersfield Fiesta

We are attending the 43rd annual Bakersfield Fiesta, a regional square dance festival, which we have attended for several years, since 1998 (although not in 2008). Dancing began at 9:00 this morning, with A-2 called by Darryl Lipscomb. We've been dancing to Darryl's calling in the Rio Grande Valley, so we were glad to see him here. In the afternoon we danced to Bob Baier and Mike Seastrom. The "Valley people" were there (Laurie and Barry and Myra and Marshall), from the San Fernando Valley. They are Romney's Stars dancers--Romney calls all over Southern California, it seems.

This evening we joined over 65 Rogues club and class members for dinner at the Cactus Valley Mexican Restaurant, beloved of Rogues because they reserve the banquet room for us . . . and make excellent margaritas. We had Scampi ala Mexico City. The shrimp were good, but the sauce was not quite what we expected.

The staff kept us well supplied with chips and salsa while the group assembled.

The Ramblin' Rogues filled the room.

The evening's festivities began with a grand march in the main hall, and the first tip was mainstream so that everyone could join in. We danced in the mainstream hall with the class members for a tip, and then we went to the plus hall, where we danced an all-boy, all-girl square before dancing with some of last year's Rogues class. We finished the evening in the A-2 hall with Darryl Lipscomb. One of the couples we danced with was Les and Carol Heims from San Diego. We meet them only at festivals and weekends, and they are one of our favorites, but they spend most of their time in the challenge hall.

For breakfast we had French toast with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, with turkey smoked sausage. Someone anonymously donated some home grown grapefruits, dropped in a bag on our picnic table, so we had some for breakfast, along with cantaloupe and orange. We had lunch on the "patio" with our friends and shared some of Wes and Jenske's delicious Slightly Seasoned 8 Grain Crisps, which they get at Costco.